Desperate to get back trade privilege, Bangladesh says it meets US factory safety conditions

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Bangladesh says it has met the conditions put forward by the United States for better safety and workers' rights in its factories that were essential to regain preferential trade status that the impoverished South Asian nation lost in 2013 after two disasters killed 1,500 garment workers.

The government's statement issued Tuesday said all of the 16 conditions set by the U.S. have been met. A delegation of the U.S. Trade Representative's office is visiting Bangladesh to review improvements in safety standards at factories and changes to legal documents allowing for wider workers' rights.

The conditions are needed to regain the Generalized System of Preferences facility under which the U.S. allows imports of some 5,000 goods from 122 of the world's poorest countries with low- or zero-tariff benefits.